Which term describes a situation where the origin and destination of nerve signals are on the same side?

The term that describes a situation where the origin and destination of nerve signals are on the same side is "ipsilateral." This term is used in neuroscience to indicate that the neuronal pathways or functions being discussed are confined to one side of the body. For example, if a sensory signal originates from a receptor in the left hand and is processed in the left side of the brain, this is considered an ipsilateral pathway.

In contrast, "contralateral" refers to pathways or functions that involve opposite sides of the body. "Decussation" describes the crossing over of nerve fibers from one side of the nervous system to the other, which typically occurs in certain brainstem structures or the spinal cord. "Bilateral" relates to both sides but does not imply that the signal originates and terminates on the same side. Therefore, "ipsilateral" is the most accurate term for signaling that remains on one side.